Unicef Timor-Leste NOw and the Future 2008

NOW AND THE FUTURE2008

TeenRAGE yearsPLUS

Oecusse gets attentionCRC turns 18

TIMOR-LESTEFREE COPY

Why Timor’s youth are angry

Timor-Leste, as a new nation, has so many opportunities at its feet to improve the lives of Timorese women, youth and children. This is a country, blessed with young people and rich natural resources that can be tapped and harnessed properly to achieve great change.

But indeed, there are many challenges.

A year ago, UNICEF compiled a series of articles and photographs to document how several thousands of lives had been affected by the crises. Stories included how women from different generations saw the violence that marked the history of the Timorese people; how people lived in the camps both in Dili and in the districts due to the 2006 crisis; how bringing back education to the children was a rallying cry; and how UNICEF worked with its different partners to plan and implement programmes meant to enrich the lives of Timorese children.

This time, attention zeroes in on the youth of Timor-Leste. In this nation of slightly over one million, around 240,000 are in the adolescent and teenage cohort.

ForewordEditor: Mary Ann Maglipon, Bridgette SeeTetum editor: Antonio GomesContributors: Dominggus Monemnasi, Judit Pinto, Lauren Rumble, Maria do Ceu, Maria Martins, Darla Rudakubana, Sophie Boudre, Ehud Bell, Bishnu Pokhrel, Fr. NelsonPhotographers: Mario Joni dos Santos, João Vas, Martine Perret, Anthony Asael, Stephanie Rabemiafara, Armando Lay, Enrico Leonardi Designer: Yulian Setyanto / DesignLab

Special thanks to all UNICEF staff and partners who helped in one way or another to breathe life into this publication.

For additional information please contact:

United Nations Children’s Fund Timor-LesteUN HouseP.O. Box 212Rua de CaicoliDili, Timor-Leste

T: +670 3313532F: +670 3313532Email: [email protected]: www.unicef.org

How is it like to live as a teenager in a young nation that is still struggling to establish its policies and programmes of development and effective governance? How is it like to live as a teenager where the scope and quality of education are still in its beginning years? What is it like to live in a society with strong affinities to

different political groups and gangs? And more important, how can youth really be active partners in building a nation that must attain progress quickly so that its people can enjoy development?

The series of articles that we have lined up in this year’s magazine attempts to share some insight on these questions. Several researches on the young, including how they perceive the work opportunities and how they perceive their sexuality, are summarised. All of these are written to provide a glimpse of the world of the young people in Timor-Leste.

The teenage years are years of discovery and challenges. And in this young nation, the challenges are in themselves the opportunities.

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/Lay

Jun KukitaRepresentativeUNICEF Timor-Leste

�2008

2008

TeenRAGE YearsBlamed for much of the past year’s violence, young people say they have been victims too. What they want now are clear policies to deliver them from their disappointments.

�0/ Coming of AgeChallenges ahead to realise children’s rights

�2/ Children’s DayTimor’s young call upon leaders to protect their rights

�5/ Is Peace Just A Dream?Commentary

�6/ The President’s ViewsDr José Ramos-Horta shares his thoughts with youth journalists

�9/ PROFILENew UNICEF Representative steps up to the challenge

20/ HIVTimor’s first HIV/AIDS campaign urges young people to take action

22/ CHILD PROTECTIONChild-friendly police station reaches out to vulnerable children

24/ EDUCATIONParent Teacher Associations making a difference in Aileu

28/ COMMUNICATIONUNICEF radio programme gives the young an avenue to express

30/ IMMUNISATIONHow tetanus can be eliminated with an affordable vaccine

Occidental Oecusse: Separated but one with Timor-Leste, the enclave is now getting the attention it needs

Cover: Photograph by Martine Perret/UNMIT 38

2

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2006/Asael

Mar

tine P

erre

t/UNM

IT

34/ NUTRITIONPilot community health volunteer programme takes off

36/ WATERBringing hope to communities through an integrated approach

47/ COMMENTARYAre we doing enough to protect Timor’s children?

CRC turns �8UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Santos

2 TIMOR-LESTE NOW AND THE FUTURE

TeenRAGEWhy Timor’s youth are angryBlamed for much of the past year’s

violence, young people say they have

been victims too. What they want now

are clear policies to deliver them from

their disappointments.

Years:

By Bridgette See

32008

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2006/Asael


“Edu came for dinner, after that he taught Nina how to paint before returning home. But before the ink on her painting dried, we heard gunshots near the chapel. Suddenly, I heard someone shout and cry that Edu had fallen…He was taken to the hospital immediately. After that we heard he died of a gunshot wound in his head…” - 22 March 2007, 10:30 pm

TeenRAGE Years

T.began keeping a diary in February when his aldeia (sub-village) became the target of attacks from neighbouring aldeias. He believes

his aldeia is under siege because they had offered shelter to some members of a martial arts group.

“We don’t want to chase them out of our village because they’ve lost their homes. They were not involved in criminal activities,” T. explains.

But the youth in Perumnas, one of the neighbouring aldeias, have a different story to tell.

Fernando da Costa who volunteers for the National Youth Council explains, “The boys [from Perumnas] are not hunting down every member [of the group]. They know them well — who is who — so they know clearly whom they’re after.”

Da Costa has been trying to forge peace in the neighbourhood and admits it is not easy. He says the feud began after the murders of a young policeman and a youth, allegedly by certain members of this martial arts group. But as far as neighbourhood wars go, truth lurks in murky waters; it is hard to say for sure

who started what. So the cycle of revenge is perpetuated — one killing for another, one attack for another.

“When things went really wrong, no one really knew who was killing who,” recalls da Costa.

The fighting sometimes got so badly out of hand that warning shots had to be fired by the police to disperse the groups. But the situation has cooled down considerably after a police post was set up in Bairro Pite, the main village.

Elsewhere, young people are still giving law enforcers headaches with their newfound pastime — aiming stones and arrows at passing cars. Cracked windshields and shattered windows in Dili bear testament to their destructive hobby.

SusceptibleSince the crisis erupted in May 2006,

the nature of the Timorese conflict has evolved variously – from discontentment within the army, to a full-blown ethnic divide and political meltdown, and then to feuding martial arts groups. While people admit it is hard to pin down the root cause, they agree that there has been

a disturbing effect on young children and youth.

Who can forget the scenes of masked Timorese youth, as they were captured on TV by news crews, wielding machetes, burning homes, and threatening people? A 2007 short film by Max Stahl (commissioned by UNICEF) showed groups of rioting young men and boys


52008

attacking a government building. An angst-filled 17-year-old shouts into the camera: “We are the future of the nation but the Government has been silent about us. As youth, we have the right to express ourselves.”

These images beg the question: what is causing the rage in Timor’s children and young people? Why is violence their

choice of self-expression?To answer that, young people want

adults to first stop making blanket statements about them. According to a 2007 study commissioned by PLAN International, young people felt that most youths were not troublemakers – they said only 10-25% participated in the 2006 violence.

They were unanimous in the opinion that young people had been manipulated by political leaders. One drew a powerful metaphor: “Young people are used, just like stepping stones in the river, so the leaders can get what they want… [And never get their feet wet.]”

When asked why young people are so susceptible to manipulation, they gave reasons ranging from the lack of education to unemployment; from boredom to

youth bravado; even from love rivalries to gang feuds or family grudges resurrected by the chaos.

The solutions they proposed were just as varied: from good parenting in the home to sound policies from the state. So far, various groups have initiated peace building activities, ranging from the government-led Simu Malu (Acceptance) dialogues, to peace education, and even mediation amongst the martial arts groups.

UNICEF’s Bridget Job-Johnson thinks life skills education is part of the answer. “When young people can analyse situations and see the different choices they have, they can then make good decisions. If they don’t have such skills, they’re more likely to succumb to peer pressure,” says Job-Johnson, an Adolescents and HIV/AIDS specialist.

Immediately after the crisis, UNICEF and its partners expanded the life skills programme to camps for internally displaced persons (IDP). From 2006 to October 2007, 12,000 youths in the country were introduced to topics such as self-awareness, coping with emotions, communication skills, decision-making and HIV/AIDS. Job-Johnson says reports from IDP camps indicate that the young people who attended the classes were less likely to join in violent activities.

JusticeThe lack of a transparent judicial

system is another reason for the continuing violence, according to Fernando da Costa. “People can’t see justice, so they decide to take their own action with street justice,” he says. “Once the justice system runs without corruption, people will then realise that if you do something, you have to bear the consequences.”

But he also adds, “You can’t throw all the youth into jails, or else the villages would be empty.” Instead, da Costa thinks there could be a tribunal for minor youth crimes that would allow offenders to make amends through compensation or community service.

At the Becora prison, 18-year old Jose Pires has been in pre-trial detention since March 2007; his charge sheet accused

Martine Perret/UNM

IT

Fledgling democracy: Timor-Leste meets the challenges of a young nation with half of its population under 18 years

Martine Perret/UNM

IT

Healthy distraction: A newly opened youth centre in Dili provides space for the young to unleash their energies

<<

52008


him of causing public disorder. The boy had gotten drunk at a friend’s farewell and they had danced on the road; they then allegedly assaulted a taxi driver. Pires says he can’t remember if he hit anyone but when the security forces arrived, he was the only one nabbed as he was too drunk to escape.

In his prison diary, he wrote in Indonesian: “I write this when I was in loneliness…My eyes are closed… Far away from family, friends and the one I really love…But I know that one day, I will be happy with them again.”

Joao Pequinho from human rights monitoring group Forum Tau Matan says Pires should be considered a delinquent and not a criminal. And although Pires belonged to a martial arts group, he has not been accused of any crimes in relation to that.

“We’re advocating for the Government to establish alternative diversionary measures instead of imprisonment,” Pequinho says, so that boys like Pires can learn from their mistakes in other ways, without losing the opportunity to study while being locked away.

Pires scribbled down a note hurriedly in halting English after the interview: “I am come here with problem, drink alcohol and drunk dance… I am feel worried when at prison lose everything… I am swear not want drink alcohol more now!”

Bright-eyed and smart, Pires — like so many young people — flirted with trouble and is now paying a price for his folly.

o keep young people out of trouble, Joao da Silva began organising sporting events with UNICEF’s support in 2006. Then in 2007, his

group Choque held a soccer competition from August to October. Every Friday to Sunday, teams of boys and men from villages, including Bairro Pite, would troop down to Becora — armed with footballs instead of machetes to slug out their differences peacefully.

Although these events have been popular, da Silva knows the road to peace is long. “To change the mentality [of violence], we will need a lot of time, but we have to start somewhere. [Our efforts] may not work today but they will in 10 to 15 years,” he says.

But at least in da Silva’s backyard – Becora – there have been no major disturbances for the past year and a half, which many credit him for. (See story on page 9)

Benicia Magno was also rallied into action after the May crisis. “I was so frustrated to see the conflict…We couldn’t do anything, we were afraid to visit our friends,” recounts Magno. “At that time, youth was seen in such a negative way, I felt that there were still many other youth who wanted to do positive things.”

After attending a peace camp in Bangkok, she led volunteers to organise a similar one here in 2007. It brought youth leaders from IDP camps and villages together to discuss their conflicts, through open dialogues and sessions on conflict

prevention and mediation. A group of the participants now call themselves Belun ba Dame (Friends for Peace) and works with the East Timor National University’s new Peace and Community Development Centre to run peace-building activities.

Youth-focused policiesThe recent crisis has thrown young

people into the spotlight — yet the writing’s been on the wall for years.

Reflections:Pires pens down his regrets from

the solitude of his prison cell

TeenRAGE Years

T


72008

Studies, including the 2004 Census, have early on indicated the potential problems for Timor if youth issues were not quickly addressed.

A 2007 Youth Employment Study by the International Labour Organisation further confirmed that young Timorese were dropping out of school too early, thus unable to find proper work. Nearly 60% of those surveyed also cited “unsuitable type of education” as the major obstacle to

employment. With the lack of appropriate skills and work experience, their chances of employment decrease over time, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty even into adulthood.

The frustration with finding work is apparent. According to PLAN’s survey, young people resent the Government for not creating enough jobs for them.

“The young people are susceptible to bribery because they are jobless,” says

Father Augustinho Soares who heads the Dili Diocese’s social outreach arm. “They have no money… so when people pay them, they start to throw stones, so they really need education and jobs.”

The Catholic Church has responded by conducting peace dialogues in villages that are still fighting, as well as providing training in carpentry, automotive repairs and English so that young people can find work.

“The youth have now realised that what they did was not good. In the beginning, they fell to the tactics, but now most of them are aware of this,” Father Soares says.

In a country where nearly half of the population is under the age of 18, and one in three falls in the 15-29 years category, there is indeed a pressing need to develop youth-focused policies.

For these reasons, work began in 2005 to draft a National Youth Policy to guide youth development in the country. The draft has since been revised with the 2006 crisis in mind — peace building, literacy, job creation, and youth participation are listed as key strategies; a Youth Fund is proposed to provide resources to support youth initiatives.

“We looked at young people not just from the angle of them being a problem, but how they can be assets to nation building,” recounts Job-Johnson, who participated in the drafting process. “It was clear that if we didn’t harness the youth energy, they would be a problem.”

The silver lining from the crisis may well be that the voices of angry youth have never been more loudly heard. The onus is now on the new Government to respond; its 2007-2012 programme document states that “youths will be a constant concern of the different governmental sectors.”

President Jose Ramos-Horta told the UN General Assembly in September 2007 that Timor-Leste will prioritise spending on education and youth employment. He also spoke about setting up a permanent

Behind bars:With no alternatives to imprisonment, the Becora children’s prison is where juvenile offenders go

<

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/See

72008


Youth Parliament for teenagers: “This is not only an effective and creative way to empower youth but also serves as a unique leadership development process and as a school for future leaders.”

There is definitely much work laid out ahead for Miguel Manitelo, the new Secretary of State for Youth. His first task is to get the draft National Youth Policy approved and he also wants to make sure that the law to regulate martial arts groups is enforced.

“Some parliamentarians are calling for the closure of martial arts groups but this is not the solution,” he says. Instead

“Bon dia friends in Timor-Leste! I was introduced to Chinese martial arts at a very young age and those skills have helped me to become what I am today. I believe that martial arts can teach us many things — discipline, respect, and focus. As a practitioner and strong believer of martial arts, I hope that children and young people who are trained must never use their skills to threaten or harm others. Instead, we can use martial arts to promote peace and fellowship. It does not matter which school of martial arts we

Jackie ChanUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

are from as long as we are united in a sport that disciplines both our mind and body. Martial arts can be our common language — to unite differences.

he thinks the first step is to define and categorise martial arts groups so that other youth groups do not give the sport a bad name. The law, when enforced, will not only keep a tab on the martial arts groups but also support their activities.

As for the range of youth issues to be tackled, the Secretary will work closely with various ministries to develop youth-focused programmes. There is an air of

confidence in Manitelo, even as he admits he has many challenges ahead.

“I see youth as youth, not from which political party,” says Manitelo, who headed the National Youth Council for five years until recently. “We will not support any politically-related youth activities.” He adds that he wants young people to be “partners” to carry out new initiatives.

For that, youth leaders like da Costa are ready to rise to the challenge.

“There’s optimism that things will change, we won’t live with this forever. The country will grow only if we [the youth] contribute,” says da Costa.

Mismatch: Young people say their education has not helped them to find work (top); Hunting high and low: A young man manages to find work at a construction site in Dili, but others who come to the capital city are not so lucky

Martial arts can unite differences

Martine Perret/UNM

IT

Martine Perret/UNM

IT©U

NICE

F/031

21d/J

ohn V

ink/M

agnu

mTeenRAGE Years


92008

MAKE PEACE,

Joao da Silva is known these days as a peace promoter for rallying young

people to reconcile through sports. But in the ‘90s, da Silva was far from promoting peace — he was

a youth activist notorious in resisting the Indonesians. He even admits to have had blood

on his hands during those turbulent times.

Da Silva became embroiled in the resistance after his older brother was killed on 12th November 1991 in the Santa Cruz massacre. “At that time I was only 16 and I didn’t want to be invo l ved in politics.

But his death made me take action,” he says, his eyes turning watery as he recalled his brother’s death.

When the militia began destroying homes after the 1999 referendum, da Silva’s house was the first in Becora village to go up in smoke. He was also caught on film wielding a long katana, dragging a militia man across the ground by his hair.

It was his activism that earned him a reputation and respect from young people — only the foolhardy would mess with him. As the ‘big brother’ of Becora village, he has become known as Joao Becora. Today, da Silva is leveraging on that reputation to broker peace amongst youth groups in various villages.

He says matter-of-factly, “You don’t send a mouse into the snake’s lair, do you? You send a bigger snake.”

In 2006, he held a series of activities that culminated in a peace march on 12th November. His message to the youth was to reject the east-west divide and to be united so that those who died in 1991 did not do so in vain.

Many credit da Silva for keeping peace in Becora. Since the initial chaos when the area around the bus terminal was razed down, the entire village has been relatively quiet, even as youth groups rampaged in other parts of Dili. “I’m proud of the fact that we have peace in Becora but it’s everyone’s work, not just mine,” says da Silva.

From a teenage activist who did not hesitate to use violence, da Silva is now, in his 30s, a respected youth leader who rejects violence.

“In those days, our motto was ‘Independence or death’ so we used many ways to achieve independence. Now that we have independence, what are we still dying for? Why don’t we just develop our nation?” he asks.

NOT WAR

“You don’t send a mouse into the snake’s lair,do you?”

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/Lay

92008

�0 TIMOR-LESTE NOW AND THE FUTURE

COMING OF AGE:UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Santos

��2008

COMING OF AGE:n 20th November 2007, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) turned 18, with global celebrations to

mark the day when the world formally recognised that children should enjoy the same human rights as adults.

Here in Timor-Leste, Hercilia Belo also celebrated her 18th birthday in the same month, but in a dusty tent she has called home for one and a half years. Her house was looted and destroyed in the political chaos of May 2006. Despite these circumstances, she still considers herself “lucky” because she managed to continue her studies and is now heading to university.

For his 18th birthday, Augusto dos Santos said a quiet prayer thanking God that he was still alive. There was no party because every dollar he earns from odd jobs goes to paying for his school fees. He is also living in a displacement camp.

Belo and dos Santos are among the first generation of children in the world to reach adulthood under the protection of the CRC. Yet, ask them if their rights have been protected, and they will say no. Little wonder since, in their 18 years, they have experienced two major crises (with violent outcomes) in 1999 and 2006.

“I know a lot about the CRC …that’s why I feel sad because I don’t think I had any of those rights in my childhood,” said dos Santos. “1999 is still fresh in my mind. I was so young, just 10, when we ran to the jungles. We were so hungry, and all we had were cassavas and coconuts.”

The CRC has achieved many milestones since 1989: almost universal ratification and child-friendly legislative

OBy Bridgette See

reforms in many governments. People are now more aware than ever of children’s rights. Yet as current conditions in Timor-Leste show, ratifying the CRC is no panacea: Timorese children still suffer from malnutrition, poverty, and violence, and have limited access to quality education.

So what needs to be done? The adoption of such a wide-spanning

convention needs to be met with sufficient resources to enforce the laws and policies. Most importantly, there must be a grassroots movement to reject violence and neglect, and for communities to prioritise the protection of their children.

The role of the CRC is thus to be a monitoring tool, reminding governments of their obligations, and citizens of their responsibilities. The Timorese Government understands this well. In its March 2007 state report to the CRC Committee in Geneva, it was honest about its limitations.

It said: “Despite considerable progress, this report does acknowledge a number of areas where Timor-Leste does not meet its CRC obligations.” These areas include the unequal access to education for children with physical and mental disabilities, and weakness in ensuring justice for children.

Thanks to the joint efforts of civil society, UN agencies and the Government, the CRC is widely-known in Timor-Leste. Orientation workshops and active children’s NGOs ensure that child rights are monitored, and breaches reported.

“Our monitoring team gets regular complaints from children in detention

The CRC has turned 18 but challenges still lie ahead to realise its vision of protecting children’s rights.

that they get to meet their lawyers only once,” said Joao Pequinho from the NGO Forum Tau Matan.

Child suspects are also detained for long periods before trial. Pequinho recalled a boy who was detained for 11 months (on the charge of minor assault) before a judge even heard his case. The NGO tries to arrange free legal aid for children whom Pequinho described as having been “thrown in and forgotten.”

Pequinho was part of a delegation that presented an alternative report to the CRC Committee in October 2007. Based on this, the Committee will meet with

Timor-Leste’s government representatives in 2008 to assess the progress and challenges faced in implementing the Convention.

Recommendations would then be issued, as a roadmap for the next five years. This document would be a powerful advocacy tool for civil society to push for change, giving the CRC more teeth.

Meanwhile, Timor-Leste is lucky to be blessed with incredibly resilient children. “As long as I am alive, I will do whatever I can to achieve a good future,” said dos Santos, his smiling face brimming with hope.

As more child-friendly laws are passed and enforced, the people of Timor-Leste can look forward to the day when their children are no longer denied their rights, or lose precious formative years awaiting justice. As poet Gabriel Mistral said, “Many things we need can wait. The child cannot… To him we cannot say tomorrow, his name is today.”

Ratifying the CRC is no panacea


CELEBRATING CHILDREN’S DAY

o the 300 or so children gathered at the Delta Nova conference hall, 31 May and 1 June were special days. The get-together was an

opportunity for children from 17 primary and pre-secondary schools to get to know the CRC better and to also discuss issues that had impacted their lives. This was part of the 2007 National Children’s Day celebrations — the third time that Timor-Leste was celebrating its tribute to Timorese children.

The cheerful scene could not have been of starker contrast to the situation a year ago — when the country had just plunged into political chaos. At that time, there were no joyous parades; the streets were quiet except for the roar of helicopters overhead. On 1 June 2006, a small group of 150 courageous women and children commemorated Children’s Day by gathering at the government building Palacio do Governo. Amidst the insecurity, they rallied for an end to weapons on the streets, a return to school, and for violence and death to be stopped.

Although those days are past, the children at Delta Nova did not forget how their rights were violated. In a series of presentations on June 1, they reflected and discussed how the past year’s events had affected them; they also wanted to know how the Government planned to protect them from further violence, manipulation and malnutrition. Of concern was the involvement of children in political campaigns, and children living or working on the streets.

The then Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva (top left in picture) assured the children that the Government was

committed to their rights, but as a new nation in a post-conflict situation, there are many challenges that have inadvertently affected the children. He also called upon adults to provide a safe environment for children in homes and communities. The then Education Minister Rosalia Corte-Real (top right in picture) also raised her concern that many children had skipped school in order to participate in political campaigns in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

When the seminar drew to a close, the children elected 15 representatives to present their observations and recommendations. Each one took turns to read from the document they drew up which was handed over to Minister Corte-Real.

As 300 pairs of eager eyes were fixed intently on her, she told them that she, on behalf of the Government, had heard the nation’s children and she knew that action had to be taken to respond to them. “I accept this document very humbly and I hope that I will do a good job in sharing this with my colleagues. I thank you for the honour of being part of the celebration of the National Children’s Day,” she said.

After the parliamentary elections in August 2007, the children’s recommendations were submitted to the new Government, namely to Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Deputy Prime Minister José Luís Guterres and Justice Minister Lucia Lobato.

TBy Mary Ann Maglipon

Mary Ann Maglipon is Communication Specialist with UNICEF Timor-Leste. [email protected]

All photographs by João Vas

�32008


“I was very happy to be given an opportunity to express my ideas and opinions on National Children’s Day. At the seminar, I spoke on the topic ‘Children have the right to be protected from the perspective of health.’ Many children shared their ideas and clarified their uncertainties with government and NGO representatives that were present at the event.

We call June 1 a day for the children of Timor-Leste yet many children are unaware of this day, and are still suffering because they continue to live in displacement camps. They have lost the right to be protected for their future. So how can we say that children are the future of this nation when we are not well-protected?

As a student, I don’t feel so safe when I go to school because my school has become an IDP camp. Many children are not well-protected; they live in tents and face great difficulties in their living conditions. Even though they have received a lot of help, it is not enough. Although the children are laughing and seem happy, I think they really feel sad inside – what they need is a safe place to grow up in.

Even though I have faced many problems during this time, the important thing for me is how I can prepare myself properly to be a person who can be of value for this nation in the future. The seminar was as an important experience for me to develop myself for the future.”

By: Judit Pinto de Oliveira SousaSacred Heart of Jesus Senior High School

Reflection

In keeping with the tradition of child participation, the students from Sacred Heart Senior High were part of a committee that organised the Children’s Day celebrations. They helped in identifying the objectives of the 2-day seminar and in planning the sessions and panellists. The students from Sacred Heart also took on roles as moderators and Master of Ceremony for the event.

What Children Really Want

� Children are able to express ideas and creativity through different public fora.

Honest observations and recommendations by Timorese children submitted to the Government, on National Children’s Day 2007.

We conclude that:

We submit our recommendations for your consideration:

2 There are many children with limited knowledge on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

3 Children who are living in the rural areas have less access to information.

4 There are many difficulties in learning Portuguese in school.

5 Many children became victims during the political campaigns.

� Reactivate the “student assembly” or student parliament.

2 Invited leaders must attend children’s events until the end.

3 Provide security within each school to ensure students’ safety.

4 Government should provide more attention to the growing number of street children.

5 Government should establish children’s development centres.

6 UNICEF, international/local NGOs and the media should continue to provide support to promote the CRC among children, parents and communities.

7 Government should approve and implement the Children’s Code (child legislation).

8 The Ministry of Education should put more reference books in the school libraries especially in Annur School.

9 Government should accelerate the process of curriculum development for pre-secondary and secondary school levels.

�0 Government should not allow children to be involved in political campaigns.

�� The Ministry of Education should strengthen teachers’ capacity to teach in Portuguese.

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2006

/Rab

emiaf

ara

�52008

t the 2007 National Children’s Day celebrations, student Octaviana do Rosario said, “The reality [we have now] is still far from the children’s dream to live in safety and peace. Perhaps we can say that peace for children is still

like a dream.”Children around the world, including Timorese children,

have the same hope to live in peace. Yet as the past two years have shown, peace is indeed still out of their reach. After four years of independence, Timor-Leste was shaken up by a major political crisis in 2006. Many people lost their houses, properties, and even their loved ones. Some attribute this to the arrogance and thirst of the leaders to rule the country but whatever the reason, the crisis greatly affected the people, especially women and children.

Thousands of children were displaced as a result of the political crisis; they fled from their homes to live in tents, exposed to rain and sun. Many were afraid to go to school because their schools had been destroyed while chairs and tables were stolen. The teachers also did not return to teach for fear of their lives.

“Children can get their right to education, if schools as learning places for children are safe from violence,” said do Rosario during her presentation in June.

At times like this, where is peace to be found?During the presidential and parliamentary elections, many

political leaders made use of children in their campaigns. Children were placed on the frontlines, raising banners, political symbols and pamphlets. When violence occurred, children became the first targets and were injured by stone throwings; some were taken to the hospital. In April, an 8-month baby girl was injured by stones after her mother had brought her along to a political

IS PEACEJUST A DREAM?

By Antonio Gomes

rally. The local media also reported that some teachers stopped teaching in order to participate in campaigns while students, still in their school uniforms, joined in the rallies.

There was no political party that won an absolute majority after the parliamentary elections. Everyone, including children, was concerned what would happen next if the political leaders did not cooperate with each other. Sadly, their worries came true.

When the President announced which political parties would form the Government, violence broke out in Dili, Baucau and Viqueque. Many houses were burned; many families fled from their homes with their children to hide in the forests. Once again, children suffered because they were not protected from the cold and diseases, and they suffered from lack of food and clean water.

Schools were again torched in the wake of the announcements — it was as if the future of this nation had gone up in smoke. Again, we ask “Where is the peace?” Perhaps peace is indeed just a dream. When will the dream for children to live freely, study in safe environments, live in their own homes and be loved from their parents be realised?

In order to transform their children’s dream to reality, parents can start by creating peace within the family. Parents should love each other and their children while children should love their parents. Love that begins from the family will spread to the communities, schools and elsewhere. If we grow love within the family and community, we can maintain peace in every Timorese’s heart.

With love and peace, people can live harmoniously and development can be achieved. This nation can then become strong with healthy, educated children who are well-prepared to welcome their future.

Antonio Gomes is Communication Officer with UNICEF Timor-Leste. [email protected]

A

Destroyed: Charred remains of the Child-Friendly Space run by Catholic NGO Caritas in Baucau, August 2007 (left); During better times when preschoolers attended kindergarten at the centre, May 2006

Fathe

r Nels

on/ C

arita

s Bau

cau

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2006

/Ber

ry

At times like this,where is peace to be found?“

”

This article was translated from the Tetum.


Maria do Ceu: As ‘President of the Poor’ what are your thoughts on children on the streets, and those who are unable to receive good quality education? President José Ramos-Horta: Many of the children on the street have no homes because they are poor, while others have run away due to domestic violence. There are those who are orphans and have no relatives willing to take care of them. This makes me really sad and has spurred me to pay more attention to their situation. I’ve spoken to the new Prime Minister and previous Prime Minister Dr Alkatiri many times for the Government to pay more attention to these children, as well as to allocate more money to help them.

THE PRESIDENT’S VIEWS

During the presidential campaigns, he called himself the President of the Poor, promising to advocate for those in poverty,

and for the young. Now elected as President, Dr José Ramos-Horta

shares his thoughts with youth journalists Maria Martins and

Maria do Ceu in a brief interview. Excerpts follow:

Interview translated from the Tetum.

Edited by Bridgette See

Maria Martins: Timor-Leste ratified the CRC on �0th December 2002. As President, how do you think we can implement the CRC well?JRH: In 2002, Timor-Leste ratified all seven human rights treaties. This was unique because not many countries have ratified all seven at one time. As signatories to these treaties, we are obliged to submit reports to the human rights committee in United Nations. The process of writing the report will show us what has not been done right, and how we can improve our laws or programmes in implementing the CRC. [But] there is no country in the world that can resolve all the problems in just five years. When the nation became

independent, everyone dreamt of going to school, but it’s impossible for the Government to accomplish everything in five years. Many schools have no water or books while children sit on the floor during classes. The quality of our teachers also has to be improved therefore the Government needs to pay urgent attention to this issue. Many children are also victims of domestic violence. Both the current and previous governments are concerned about this but this will take time to resolve.

Do Ceu: During the National Children’s Day celebrations at Delta Nova on � June 2007, the children asked the government to re-establish the

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Vas

�72008

Student Parliament. As President, how do you think this can be realised? JRH: As the President, I can present recommendations and ideas to the Government but I am not the one who will carry out the programme or to provide the budget. I have raised the idea of establishing a youth parliament as well and this has been accepted by the Government. I hope that UNICEF, UN, or other experts can help to develop this idea further. Let’s see if this can start in 2008 or in 2009 because it does take time to set up a youth parliament. I think this is important for youth development as it gives them the opportunity to express their opinions and dreams. Another advantage is that it will also help us to develop new leaders because as parliamentarians, the youth will have to debate and research on many issues.

Do Ceu: What about your plans for youth scholarships?JRH: I’ve spoken strongly about scholarships

and Prime Minister Xanana has agreed to discuss with his Government how this can be established. The Government has not made a concrete decision as it still has to allocate a budget for it in 2008. The previous Government did not give any student scholarships except some ad hoc help for needy children through the previous Ministry of Labour and Community Re-insertion. I have spoken about the need to establish scholarships for tertiary students who are overseas. Many Timorese students now study in Indonesia but they don’t study well because of the lack of food and accommodation. As for national scholarships, I think those in the rural villages should be prioritised. The scholarships are not typical ones that pay for school fees as education is free in Timor-Leste. The scholarships will assist families, not students. We can’t help every child in every family, but we can help the family, for example, by giving $50 a month to mothers to pay for transport, food, water, books, clothes, etc.

Martins: On a final note, do you have any message for the children?JRH: I can say that there is no political party in the Government that does not empathise with the situation of children in Timor. All of us have children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews; we were all once children. Many of us [leaders] also faced difficulties when we were young. When I was in Soibada, we ate corn everyday; we had no water and no clothes. That’s why we can understand their plight. We’re not just paying lip service but we really recognise that children are the future of the nation. In 10 or 20 years, the two of you could be the President, the Prime Minister, a business woman, a scientist, but for this to happen, you will first need good health. The Government has to focus on providing water and food, as well as to establish better schools. We will work towards resolving these challenges in the coming five years.

Maria Martins and Maria do Ceu are from Saint Joseph College’s journalism club Jornal Parede.

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/VasMaria de Ceu (extreme right) and Maria Martins interview the President in his office at Caicoli


oung people play a vital role in ensuring the stability and development of Timor-Leste – a fact that is clear to the United

Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, said that with 1 in every 2 Timorese under 18 years of age, children are especially important for the

he Government is committed to reform the education system by increasing the quality of education and

equity of access for all Timorese. This means more schools will be built and more teachers trained to meet the needs of our growing population. By the end of this Government’s mandate, all Timorese should enjoy nine years of compulsory and free primary and pre-secondary education. The new primary school curriculum will be fully implemented in 2008 while pre-secondary and secondary curricula will follow shortly. The Ministry also intends to expand technical and vocational education by establishing more institutions with training courses tailored to the current workplace and economic climate in Timor-Leste.

To ensure that our students receive a standard of education compatible to others in the region, schools at all levels of education will be accredited according to a government license system. Education was identified by the Timorese people as their highest priority in the consultation conducted for the National Development Plan in 2002. Education is also a very high in priority in other developing nations where poverty is widespread. Thus our hope is that more and more Timorese will become educated through our new and developing system in order to pull Timor-Leste out of poverty.”

- Education Minister João Cancio Freitas

Snapshots

Y

“C

“T

Mar

tine P

erre

t/UNM

IT

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2006

/See

future of the nation. Thus, children are a priority for UNMIT in its work to restore and maintain stability, and to seek political and economic solutions to the complex social problems that led to the 2006 crisis. “We have seen operationally successful and politically accepted elections that enjoyed a high female voter participation rate of 47 per cent. Many of these women are mothers, and their active political

participation will set a strong example for their children,” said Khare. From an economic perspective, the SRSG pointed out that professional education and vocational training are priorities for the UN and the Government of Timor-Leste, in order to overcome skill shortages in a number of professions and vocations that are essential to nation building. “It is the children of this country that are the future of Timor-Leste and it is the future of these young people that the UN and its agencies work to develop and protect,” Khare said. UNMIT will continue working with the Government and the youth of Timor-Leste on key priorities to enhance the welfare, health and education of all children.

Unite for Children and Youth

“We must ensure that justice for children is appropriate, independent and specialised.”

hildren are vulnerable and can be easily abused; it is difficult for them to defend their rights. They are also our precious

resources for development which we need to take care of, therefore I believe that we need to protect their rights in an integrated way. I defend any initiatives to discuss the problems of children and youth, so that we can better understand their lives, and their basic needs in relation to education, health, justice and other social conditions. It will be the duty of the Government, civil society, NGOs and communities to work together for children; this will help us to achieve the progress and development objectives that this country has outlined. The Government guarantees that basic education is free and that all children can go to school, especially those in the rural areas. We will also take measures

to approve the legislation to protect children’s interests, and advocate that youths are not manipulated by adults, especially in politics. Justice is like a pillar that guarantees the rights of everyone, so we must ensure that justice for children is appropriate, independent and specialised. In order to draw young people closer to society and to imbibe values of dialogue, tolerance and ethics, we have to promote activities that enrich their creativity, such as through arts, culture, sports, and open spaces for them to express and develop themselves. These activities will contribute to the good character development of the youth, and prevent them from falling into crime. Our independent nation was achieved with much sacrifice from the children. It is time now to repay them for their sufferings, so as to defend their dignity and give hope to them.”- Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão

�92008

Profile

un Kukita has worn many ‘hats’ as he moved up the ranks in UNICEF – from an assistant programme officer, to a senior fund raising

officer, and now as the Representative of the Timor-Leste office. Through the course of his work, Kukita has travelled widely from the sunny islands of Maldives, to flood-prone Bangladesh, and to cosmopolitan New York. Now, after 21 years of globetrotting, the Japanese national says he “feels very much at home” in Timor-Leste as he is finally back in Southeast Asia – a region he had travelled extensively in as a young man.

“I like the food, the sea, and the rice paddies,” he says, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled broadly. Kukita, who speaks a bit of Indonesian, is now picking up Portuguese with the help of language tapes, and Tetum using UNICEF’s basic literacy manual Hakat Ba Oin (Step Forward).

With a host of different experiences,

Kukita is confident to take on the challenge of heading the UNICEF office. He is no stranger to humanitarian response having worked on the resettlement of refugees in newly independent Namibia during the ‘90s. There he was involved in participatory community development projects in rural and urban areas.

“One day [in Namibia] I was talking to a woman leader, she said ‘We have just been freed from apartheid but women are still under another sort of apartheid – that of discrimination which is deeply rooted in our social structure – so our struggle continues,’” he recounts. “Hence, the slogan ‘A luta continua’ (‘The struggle continues’) is also commonly used there by the women.”

Another thing in common is the need for psychosocial support. “People’s minds have to be healed – the fear, anger, and distress after long years of suppression

have to be addressed, and this will take time,” he says.

Kukita, who arrived in late September, thinks the country’s top priority should be on maternal and child health. “The maternal mortality ratio and child

mortality rate are one of the highest in the world,” he says. “We have to look at this urgently.” Also of concern is the quality of basic education and the need for more attention on young people.

He says 2008 will be an important year for UNICEF to plan for its five-year programme cycle (2009 – 2013). This will coincide with the new Government’s National Development Plan for the next five years.

“I hope that through our work, we will remove the threats, the poverty, and the abuse which prevent Timorese children from achieving their best,” he says. “Unless we take out the hurdles, this country can’t develop to its full potential.”

J

BRINGING DOWN THE BARRIERS

New UNICEF Representative steps up to the challenge to remove hurdles for Timorese children.

“People’s minds have to be healed.”


By Bridgette See

n Timor-Leste, ‘eggplants’ and ‘flowers’ have become handy code names for HIV educators when referring to the genitals. This, they

say, makes it less awkward to talk about sexual reproduction and HIV with young people.

“Initially some of the young people were angry [to talk about genitals], they said it was immoral to mention those terms in public,” said Domingos dos Santos, from local NGO Fundasaun Timor Harii. He and colleague Amelia Carlos train young people to be HIV peer educators - an activity supported by UNICEF.

“IT’S TIME TO TALK”Timor-Leste’s

first nationwide HIV/AIDS

campaign urges young people to

find out more and to take

action.

I

Adolescents and HIV/AIDS

Amelia Carlos said that only a few young people from each of her sessions really know their own bodies, and about sexually-transmitted infections.

“When we show the models of the genitals, they’re so shy. The girls hide behind their hands, while the boys tend to joke a lot,” she said.

But Timor-Leste cannot avoid talking about sex or HIV any longer. Over the years, the number of reported HIV cases has increased, from 7 in 2002, to 43 at the end of 2006. 11 have died so far, on this island of less than a million people.

The seemingly small number of known

HIV cases may only be the tip of the iceberg, as Voluntary and Confidential Counselling and Testing (VCCT) for HIV is currently limited to 3 service outlets in Dili and thus is still not widely accessible to most, especially outside Dili.

In June, a refreshingly bold campaign led by the Ministry of Health urged young people to find out more about HIV/AIDS and more importantly, to take preventive action. With its slogan “It’s time to talk” the three-month campaign was carried out in all 13 districts, with the support of UNICEF. HIV trainings, parades, and outreach provided information, and

ABOUT SEX AND HIV

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/SeeA group of energetic youth participate in a campaign event in Dili

2�2008

encouraged young people to find out more on how they can protect themselves from HIV infection.

“This campaign is viewed by UNICEF as a very important first line action to break the silence about HIV and AIDS,” said Bridget Job-Johnson, UNICEF Adolescents and HIV/AIDS Specialist. “This will fulfil the right of young people of Timor-Leste to accurate information about HIV/AIDS so they could take informed decision.”

She added, “Young people form a big proportion of the Timor population. Experience from across the world has

proven that young people are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection for many reasons.”

27-year-old Rosario (not his real name) is one of the many young people who actively participated in the national campaign. He discovered he was HIV positive a year ago while studying in Indonesia. He thinks he may have contracted the virus when he experimented with drugs and acquired tattoos using shared needles. Rosario volunteered in the HIV campaign workforce to share as much information as possible to prevent others from getting infected.

Adolescents and HIV/AIDS

“I think the campaign is so important for people like me who are positive,” he said. “So many of us don’t have clear information about HIV/AIDS and are scared.”

At a public event, Rosario went onstage to sing some comical songs that tickled the crowd. Cheerful, healthy and energetic, he gave no indication that he was HIV positive, although he would have to bear the burden of living with the virus for the rest of his life. This may also be the case of many young people who have not tested for HIV, and are unaware of their status.

“I want to encourage people who are positive to get treatment and information, and I hope others would stay away from risky sexual behaviour or use drugs with shared needles,” Rosario said.

As part of the campaign, 80 Master Trainers were trained to conduct HIV training for 1,525 campaign volunteers, who would in turn pass on the information to 40,000 youths in their communities.

According to a baseline survey conducted as part of the campaign strategy, 61% of 1,097 youth surveyed said they had heard of HIV/AIDS. Although the awareness is high, the lack of accurate knowledge is still a major concern; for instance, half of the young people who had heard about HIV believed insect bites could spread the virus.

Young people are also already engaging in sexually-risky behaviours. In the survey, 39% said they have had sexual intercourse, with six out of ten having their first encounter between 15-19 years old. More than half had unprotected sex, and more than one sexual partner.

Key steps towards HIV prevention are being taken in Timor-Leste with on going efforts from the Government and its partners. The campaign, as one of the key steps, is helping to break the silence and desensitise HIV/AIDS discussions.

At the Dili district campaign launch, two volunteers distributed red ribbons and campaign buttons while wearing hats adorned with condoms — a rare but encouraging sign of increasing acceptance to the use of condoms to prevent HIV transmission.

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See

A volunteer helps out an event, wearing a hat strung with condoms

<

A young man reads the campaign’s brochure to find out more about HIV/AIDS which is rarely discussed in Timor-Leste until recently

<


or any child, stepping into a police station can be a daunting experience. But in Dili, officers from the Vulnerable Persons’ Unit (VPU)

of the Timorese Police are offering a warm welcome, together with an outdoor playground and a child-friendly interview room.

“Before, we had to work harder to put the children at ease, but now, with the toys, crayons and books, the children feel more comfortable to talk to us,” said VPU officer Natercia Babo de Jesus.

In early August, the Dili VPU was a hive of activity as police officers, UNICEF staff, and children from various groups came together to paint and decorate the police station. Very quickly, cheerful scenes of animals, flowers, stars and moon,

Child-friendly police station opens in Dili to reach out to vulnerable children.

F

Child Protection

and the sea filled the walls; multi-coloured handprints by the children also appeared on the centre’s exterior walls.

Inside the interview room, a large mural depicting UNICEF Timor-Leste’s Marta icon added a rainbow of colours. This room, together with toys and drawing materials from UNICEF, will allow police officers to interview child victims, witnesses and alleged juvenile offenders in a warm and caring environment. Most victims of abuse are too ashamed or too afraid to report complaints; the child-friendly police station aims to address this problem.

“We train the VPU officers to relax the child and establish trust before starting any interviews by talking about things of interest or to engage in play or drawing,”

said Ann Linnarsson, UNICEF Child Protection Officer, “so this child-friendly room is the perfect place to get the investigations off to a good start.”

UNICEF has been working with the VPU since 2004. This unit, comprising national police officers and UN police officers, specialises in investigating gender-based violence and other crimes against women and children. UNICEF has provided training on child rights, child-friendly investigation techniques, and laws and procedures in the justice system. This year, UNICEF provided legal and other technical guidance to the VPU to finalise Rules of Procedures for cases involving children in line with international and Timorese laws and frameworks.

“When I was painting alongside a boy,

By Bridgette See & Lauren Rumble

A RAY OF SUNSHINE

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Leonardi

Brightening up the police station with colourful scenes

232008

Child Protection

he asked if this was a children’s prison,” remarked UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Lauren Rumble. This was because most Timorese know only of the children’s prison and have never seen a child-friendly police station like this one.

“We will support other VPUs in the districts to establish similar child-friendly police stations,” said Rumble.

The welcoming atmosphere earned the thumbs-up from the children who helped to decorate the place. 12-year-old Francisca Amaral said, “I hope I can come to the police station to tell what happened

to me, eat and play with toys… so that I can play together with other children to forget our trauma and difficulties.” For Zaquel Pinto, 13, “this is a happy place.”

Happy places are what Timorese children yearn for

right now. Since April 2006, the country has had to deal with outbreaks of violence; thousands of children have been affected by widespread population

displacement, while many were recruited into armed

groups or gangs. More than a year later, large numbers are still

living in displacement camps and host communities, lacking proper health, water, sanitation and education.

This August, just as the child-friendly room was opened, numerous children in the eastern districts of Baucau and Viqueque were once again exposed to violence, including rape, after the new government was announced.

“Women and children are the primary victims of violence and conflict in Timor-Leste. VPU officers are the frontline defence for their protection, to facilitate access to care and support services, and to help victims pursue their right to justice,” said Rumble. “The VPU is a valuable resource to the people of Timor-Leste and must be provided with the necessary human and financial resources to continue their important work.”

UNICEF is currently supporting the Government to assess the VPU’s management and operations so that its services can be further improved. The UNICEF Child Protection Programme aims to build a protective environment at national and community levels. This includes scaled-up technical support to Government and Police to help realise children’s right to justice and provide timely support services to child victims, which will require approximately US$1 million.

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Leonardi

Martine Perret/UNM

IT

A VPU officer, alongside a young boy, adds colour to the Marta mural in the child-friendly interview room

The first child-friendly police station in Timor-Leste brings smiles to children who attended its official opening in August

<

“Lauren Rumble

”

When I was painting alongside a boy,

he asked if this wasa children’s prison.


t’s really amazing,” exclaimed Jorge Mouzinho, UNICEF Senior Programme Assistant for Education.

“The last time I came, the floor wasn’t covered with cement; there was no partition… now there’s a divider. I’m very happy, [it’s] really out of my imagination,” he said, shaking his head in wonder.

This was in May when we had just arrived at Rairema Primary School, after a bone-rattling ride from Aileu district centre. Geographically, Aileu is right in the centre of Timor-Leste, hence its nickname ‘rai husar’ or navel of the land.

As Mouzinho spoke, he walked from one room to the other, paying attention to the workmanship, nodding his head in approval. This simply furnished hut was the principal’s office; Mouzinho had visited the site three months ago when work had just begun.

“I

Education

MAKINGA DIFFERENCE WITH LOVE

Rairema’s parents:

By Bridgette See

252008

Next door, another brand new hut now serves as a kitchen. A parent volunteer was busy preparing a meal for the students, using the corn-soy blend flour given by the World Food Programme (WFP).

What thrilled Mouzinho most was that both huts were built by parents and teachers of the school. The cement was purchased with funds from the Education Ministry while most of the timber was supplied by principal, Jose Pacheco Soares, himself.

This is just one reason why Rairema Primary has earned itself a reputation of having a cohesive and proactive Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA here was set up in 2004 as part of UNICEF’s Child Friendly Schools project. The project, which involves 712 schools in Timor-Leste, aims to promote effective and enjoyable learning in schools by creating a

friendly atmosphere for teachers, children and parents. PTAs allow families to support their schools and teachers through a variety of activities ranging from physical work to volunteering to teach at schools.

Today at Rairema, a group of parents have gathered and were listening to principal Soares. He thanked them for coming and listed the tasks ahead: rebuilding the school fence and preparing the school garden for new crops.

Soon after, the mothers picked up their hoes and went down to the slope behind the school where the garden was. They began yanking out weeds, roots and dried crops to clear the way for new ones to be planted.

“Here,” said a mother, “this is forekeli, the bean we use to make tempe (a local dish).” She held out a stalk to me, showing me the white beans inside.

The garden is an important part of the school, as it supplements the food from the WFP school feeding programme. The parents have banded together to grow nutritious crops such as pumpkins, corn, bananas, red beans, soya beans, potatoes, cucumbers, yam and tapioca. They are blessed with a nearby spring that keeps the garden well-watered.

“Instead of giving money, it’s better that we contribute our labour,” said Domingas Correira, a mother of three. School fees were abolished in 2006 when the Government declared free public education for all students in Timor-Leste.

Everyday, parent volunteers prepare a mid-day meal so that the students could walk home with a full stomach. Some of them, said the principal, live nearly five kilometres away, taking up to two hours to get home.

Over at the front of the school, the fathers were busy taking apart an old school fence and clearing the grass in the area.

Domingos Mourao, a father of three,

Education

To keep the children’s attention, teachers intersperse lessons with action songs and activities

<A mother shows off the fruits of their labour which will be used to supplement the children’s mid-day meal prepared at the school<




explained that there is a system of rotation among the parents so “the next invitation [to work] will be for another group of parents.”

Despite the searing heat, both groups of parents were in high spirits; raucous laughter and giggles could be heard occasionally. They also seemed to have strong rapport with the principal.

“I was a village chief during Indonesian time,” Soares explained. “It was a period of clandestine resistance so trust was built during that time. I still lived with the community for five years after independence and only just left to become the school principal here so [the parents] have continued to trust me.”

This trust and solidarity have given Soares ample social capital to build a proactive PTA. Most of the parents seemed to have gotten his message that “teachers may move elsewhere but mom and dad’s good work will remain here.”

On the school grounds were three wooden huts that were built by the villagers in 2002 to serve as community centres. But as student numbers increased and the concrete school building ran out of space, the villagers have allowed the huts to be transformed into classrooms.

“Previously, there were two grades

sharing one room, with the blackboard split in half,” said Soares. Now, the students from Grades 1 to 3 are in the wooden huts; receiving undivided attention from their teachers.

To keep the children’s attention, teachers intersperse lessons with action songs and activities - an example of how a UNICEF child-friendly school makes learning active and enjoyable. The wooden walls were thin, so the children’s bright voices permeated through, giving a lively feel to the school.

After a couple of hours, the fathers were now putting in the new fence; it looked much better than before, with evenly cut logs, uniform height, and a sturdier feel.

“We work so that our children can go to school so that they can become smart,” said Antonio Tilman, a father of six.

Mourao nodded in agreement, “We want to display a good example to our children so that when they grow up, they

would do the same.”At lunch time, the principal invited

us to share a simple meal. The parent volunteers had prepared a traditional dish called batar fai, a nutritious soup boiled from a mixture of soya beans, corn, red bean, pumpkin and pumpkin leaves. They had also steamed sweet potatoes as a side dish. The entire meal was made from the fruits of their labour — from the school garden.

When the meal was over, the mothers sat on a grass slope overlooking the school field. Their children who had finished school were kicking football and playing volleyball. With the towering mountains behind and the blue sky above, the scene was an idyllic one.

“This school is really an example of how parents can make a difference,” said Mouzinho, “that is why I hope other schools and parents will be inspired by their story.”

Principal Jose Soares (far right) stands outside his office as he speaks to parents who have come to help out

<

Fathers installing a new fence that will protect the school garden<

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See


Education

“Instead of giving money, it’s better that we contribute our labour.

Domingas Correira

”

272008

Devoted A look at what other parents in Aileu are doing for their children

“If we want to work fast, we [the men and women] have to work together,” said Amelia Tilman, as she began stripping a tree trunk of its bark efficiently with a machete. Usually in Timor-Leste, there would be a division of labour when men and women gathered to work: the women would cook or tend the garden while the men took on traditionally masculine tasks such as sawing, felling timber and carpentry. But here at Lisimori Primary School, which is in the Laulara sub-district of Aileu, men and women were working shoulder-to-shoulder to fell trees and construct a school fence. Once the area is fenced up, the

When it rains, it pours in Mantane village. The torrential afternoon showers would flood the river, making it dangerous for children to return home after school. That is why parents and teachers of Mantane Primary School decided to construct an extension building so that all the students could study in the morning. “Right now, we have 300 children but only three classrooms so we can’t accommodate them all,” explained school principal Jose Pinheiro. With some funds from the Education Ministry, the parents constructed the walls with the bark of palm trees, cemented the floor, and covered the roof with zinc plates. They also built the doors and windows, and repaired broken chairs and tables. “For those who don’t have regular day jobs, they contribute their labour. Others have contributed cement and zinc plates for the school,” added Pinheiro. There was a

Side by Side

Supporting one another

parents would start planting food crops to supplement school meals. “We can plant some vegetables here, and the animals won’t be able to enter,” said Madelena Fatima, 35. She was helping out despite having to care for six children at home. The presence of the adults did not go unnoticed by the children. “I feel good because I know my father loves me that’s why he came today,” said 12-year-old Irene da Silva.

hive of activity, as the children played in the dusty schoolyard, while the men hammered away. In the kitchen, the mothers and female teachers were busy preparing a simple meal from bananas, sweet potatoes, and corn for all the helpers. “I’ll go back to tell my mother what my father did in school today,” said Class 5 student Juana Mendoca, 15. “I feel happy to contribute because it is our own area, in our own village,” said parent Mario Viera, who was the previous president of the Mantane PTA. “We want to participate more because it’s good for our children’s future.” Before we left, a villager pointed out that Mantane’s name was derived from two words: ‘maun’ and ‘tane’ which means to ‘support your brother’ in the Tetum Terik language. From their enthusiasm, it was clear this solidarity does exist in Mantane village.




uring the Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste, I was a radio journalist with Radio Timor Kmanek, a church-run radio

station in Dili. Back then, we hardly heard the ‘voices’ or the opinions of children in the media but in recent years, their voices have become louder and clearer.

For example in Oecusse, the children share what they know through the Labarik Nia Lian (LNL) or Voices of Children programme which is produced at the local community radio station, Atoni Lifau’s Voice. The station is named after a monument at Lifau where the Portuguese first landed on Timor Island in 1515.

Every Sunday evening, Oecusse residents get to hear what the children have produced. This is still something

A UNICEF radio programme gives the

young an avenue to express

D

Communication

Dominggus Monemnasi shares his experience.

TUNING INTO CHILDREN

This article was translated from the Tetum.

new for both the young and also the community as the programme only began in 2005 with support from UNICEF.

LNL, which is produced by children under 18, gives them an avenue to participate and to express their thoughts. Children can use the airwaves to discuss issues that affect their lives and future. Currently, UNICEF works with eight radio stations in seven districts to run this programme (Lospalos, Viqueque, Manatuto, Aileu, Liquiça, Oecusse and Dili) and continues to look for opportunity to introduce it to the other districts.

The children’s editorial team at Atoni Lifau station comprises 18 children ranging from ages 11 to 18. Devia da Costa joined the team in January 2006. “I want to become a journalist. I always

292008

Communication

talk to my friends to tell them more about journalism,” she says. “I also go to primary schools to invite other children to participate because they often just sit at home with nothing to do after school.”

Through her participation, Devia has learnt to speak in public, to conduct community research, and also to convince other children that it is important for all boys and girls to go to school. Now, at 11, she is already able to produce a programme on her own - without having to wait till she is a grown-up to be a journalist.

Her friend Lucas da Costa Pereira, 15, says, “I feel happy because I can get a lot of experience on how to prepare the script and produce programmes, conduct interviews and to create radio dramas. These skills are not taught in school.”

Oecusse resident Donzilio Ribeiro, 45, feels the programme has benefited his daughter greatly after listening to her on radio. “Before joining the radio team, my daughter was so shy to talk to people and her Tetum was not so good. But now…she can talk to people and speak Tetum better than me,” says Ribeiro.

Nina Riberio is one of the two adult volunteers at the station who provide technical assistance and training to the children. “As a facilitator, I have to be with the children constantly even though they have received a lot of training already. Some of them just need more time to understand, while others are fast,” she says.

What Riberio finds most challenging is to use the right language and method to teach the children so that they can understand her more easily. She often encourages the children that “when they become journalists, they cannot be shy.”

The children from LNL do not just learn how to produce radio programmes in the studio but they also spend time looking for information in the community.

In September 2005, I followed two children from the Viqueque LNL team to sub-district Uato-lari when UNICEF commissioned a short film documentary on LNL. I accompanied them to the fields

where they saw farmers using traditional methods to thresh their rice. Here, the children interviewed them on the importance of sending their children to school.

We also attended a ritual for an uma lulik or traditional Timorese sacred house. I was really proud of the children when I saw how they were able to participate in the ceremony and, during this sacred ritual, were still able to interview the lia nain uma tradisional (the sacred house’s top leader) on children’s education. The young reporters asked some tough questions; they wanted to know if such ceremonies could impede children’s right to education as parents often set aside large amounts of money for these sacred rites.

The 2006 crisis disrupted some LNL programmes but all the participating stations have since revived it. Two more radio stations in Dili, Radio Rakambia and Radio Timor Kmanek, also joined us in 2007 to give children more avenues to express their opinions and to participate in the media.

Dominggus Monemnasi used to be known as ‘Indra’ on the airwaves. He is now UNICEF Senior Communication Assistant overseeing the LNL project. [email protected]

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Setyanto

Two girls from the Oecusse children’s editorial team record a segment for the weekly Labarik Nia Lian programme

Dominggus Monemnasi (left) with the young journalists of Oecusse’s community radio station

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Setyanto


When Celestinha Gomes delivered her fifth child Adelino in July 2007, she thought he was a healthy, normal baby. Ten days later,

her happiness turned to horror when Adelino’s mouth stiffened up and he could not suckle from her breast. When Adelino broke into a high fever his mother knew that something was very wrong and rushed him to the Dili National Hospital.

“When Adelino came to the hospital, his back stiffened up, as well as his legs and arms,” recounted 33-year-old Gomes. “I was so scared; I thought he was going to die.”

Adelino was showing the common signs of a tetanus infection, with the locked jaw and stiffness in his body. Hospital staff rushed to rescue him with medicine and oxygen to help him to breathe. Luckily, the infant survived the ordeal.

“Based on the delay of the onset of his symptoms, the baby probably had a minor infection, and was very lucky to survive,” said Dr Francois Gasse, UNICEF Senior Project Officer for Immunisation.

“In countries where babies are delivered at homes, they’ll be born and then die without the health system knowing it,” he said. This is why tetanus is dubbed a ‘silent’ killer, and some countries, including Timor-Leste, have scant records of newborns dying from tetanus.

About six cases of newborn tetanus are reported here each year, but the low numbers are misleading. Timor-Leste is one of the 42 countries in the world yet to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus (MNT).

Dr Gasse, who is based in New York, was in Timor-Leste recently to work with UNICEF Immunisation Specialist Dr Yin Yin Aung to draw up an action plan for tetanus. Due to his global work to stem

Health: Immunisation

Baby Adelino dos Santos recuperating in the Dili National Hospital in August after being treated for tetanus

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See

3�2008

How tetanus can be eliminated by 2009 with an affordable vaccine.

Health: Immunisation

tetanus, he has become widely known as ‘Dr Tetanus.’

“I hate tetanus. I should really be called Dr Anti-Tetanus,” he protested, with a laugh. But he became serious quickly again, to explain how tetanus can never be completely eradicated because its spores are found in dirt, soil or dung – literally everywhere.

When babies are born in unclean conditions, tetanus spores can enter the umbilical cord stump, leading to infection and death in more than 70% of cases. For rural homebirths in Timor-Leste, it is common practice to sever the cord with a razor blade, tie it up with string, and then dry it with hot ash — unhygienic practices that can lead to tetanus infection. In baby Adelino’s case, his mother had used a pair of unclean scissors to cut his umbilical cord.

Yet tetanus can be easily prevented: it only costs about US$1.20 to immunise a

woman with three doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine. This protects her and any babies born to her for up to 10 years.

“Here, there is only one district Manatuto that has a high coverage of tetanus toxoid with more than 90% of the women covered,” explained Dr. Aung. “We must have all women vaccinated to effectively protect newborns.”

In Lautem district, there is a central health centre and many health posts where women can go for their antenatal checks and receive the tetanus vaccine. There is also an NGO that conducts mobile visits to more remote villages. But still, there are at least 40% of women in Lautem who are never reached.

Furthermore, despite on-going efforts to encourage women to deliver at hospitals or with midwife assistance, more than 70% of all babies in Timor-Leste are still delivered in unclean conditions. This happens not just in remote villages but even in the city Dili.

Take Celestinha Gomes who lives only 20 minutes from the National Hospital. She delivered at home because her husband was at work and there was no one to care for her four children.

Immunisation is hence critical. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 50,000 newborns have been saved from tetanus since 2000, thanks to aggressive immunisation activities taking place globally.

UNICEF is thus proposing to work with the Health Ministry to launch a series of Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIAs) to immunise up to 80% of all women of child-bearing age. If the SIAs begin in early 2008, Timor-Leste could eliminate MNT by 2009.

“At the same time, the health service must continue to improve routine tetanus vaccinations for pregnant women,” said Dr Aung. “We must also encourage more women to deliver at hospitals or at least have the help of qualified mid-wives to deliver their babies in safe conditions. Lastly, we have to monitor and keep tab on the incidents of newborn tetanus.”

By Bridgette See

STOPPING A SILENT KILLER

Dr Gasse and Dr Aung (middle) visit the Comoro health clinic in Dili to find out more about the demand for tetanus toxoid vaccinations at the facility



Marta goes on new adventures in 2008, helping to keep children healthy and protected.

332008

Snapshots

oo shy to breastfeed in public? Not for a group of Timorese women who proudly came together on August 4th to

breastfeed their babies all at the same time. The synchronised event, which was flagged off by representatives from UNICEF, Alola Foundation and the Ministry of Health, marked the annual World Breastfeeding Week (1-8 August). For 2007, the key message was that breastfeeding within one hour of birth can save lives. “Far too few women in Timor-Leste have an appreciation of the huge benefits, emotional and nutritional, of early initiation of breastfeeding,” said Kirsty Sword-Gusmão, founder of Alola Foundation. “We can change this, and hence dramatically improve the chances of survival of our newborns, through education and information alone.” This includes educating families about the great value of colostrums (first flow of yellow milk) which have natural goodness like antibodies and proteins to give babies their first boost of immunity. So mothers – instead of discarding the colostrums, make sure your baby drinks this liquid gold from your breast as soon as he or she is born!

T

NICEF, CONCERN International and the Ministry of Health are literally going nuts - over malnutrition. They plan to

introduce a high-energy therapeutic food made of peanut paste to the Manufahi district in 2008. This is the pilot phase of a new project on community-based care for acutely malnourished children. Previously all severe cases had to be hospitalized; this often resulted in early discharge for a variety of complex reasons, like other family responsibilities or limited facility space, posed by the lengthy stay. Now, with community-based care, severely

Going nuts U

malnourished children without medical complications can be cared for at home, by their parents. They are monitored weekly on an out-patient basis while receiving treatment for up to three months. The children will receive packets of the high-energy food which is made of peanut paste, vegetable fat, dry skimmed milk, sugars, minerals and vitamins. It is fuss free — just rip open and eat — so there is no need for trained health staff to prepare or any risk of contamination. When the child’s condition improves, he or she moves onto a supplementary feeding programme. Parents will also receive nutrition education during the treatment period, so they will learn how to prepare nutritious meals and also practice breastfeeding.

Liquid gold

This is a long term solution to stem the cycle of malnutrition. Currently Timor-Leste has one of the highest prevalence of malnutrition in Asia Pacific; about 1 in every 2 children (below five years of age) suffers from malnutrition.

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See


he raw, rugged beauty of Timor-Leste greets any visitor flying into the country. Innumerable mountain folds — sometimes

lush green, sometimes brittle brown — cover most parts of the small island state. This beautiful yet forbidding terrain poses severe challenges, especially in terms of health care, for its people.

“In a remote village of Aileu district, I once met a family who had six of their nine children die before reaching five years of age. They accepted these deaths without questioning whether anything could have been done to save them,” recounted Jennifer Barak, UNICEF Child Survival and Maternal Health Care Specialist.

Timor-Leste kicks off its pilot

community health volunteer

programme.

T

Health: Nutrition

By Bridgette See

TAKING HEALTH IN OUR OWN HANDS

“It was only during the woman’s ninth pregnancy that a midwife, as part of a mobile team, made contact with the family and could intervene with counselling and other health services.”

Much of Timor-Leste’s basic health care infrastructure was destroyed during the 1999 post-referendum violence. Furthermore, low levels of adult literacy, sporadic outreach services and short hours at existing health facilities all hamper the regular provision of health care – especially to outlying communities.

In response, the country’s Ministry of Health, with support from UNICEF, has piloted the Family Health Promoters Programme (FHPP) to create a national

network of health volunteers. Its guidelines were formulated by the Ministry after extensive consultation with communities, health staff, NGOs and UNICEF.

The FHPP is based on changing behaviour from within a community so volunteers are recruited from their villages. Regarded as insiders, they are expected to gain trust more quickly and to also understand their communities’ situation better. By July, 433 volunteers from four pilot districts were trained.

“Our health slogan has always been ‘Your health is in your own hands’ so we hope that this programme will encourage the community to really participate in improving their own health,” said Pedro

352008

Health: Nutrition

TAKING HEALTH IN OUR OWN HANDS

Amaral, Health Promotion Chief at the Health Ministry.

In July, the pilot phase of the FHPP in Aileu district was launched at the Liquidoe Health Centre by then Health Minister Dr Rui de Araujo. He handed over certificates to 123 volunteers who had completed their training as Family Health Promoters.

“We still don’t have a long tradition of volunteerism in our country, so today is a historic moment when we start a tradition here. We have to set an example to volunteer… You can be the good Samaritan,” said Dr Araujo as he exhorted the largely Catholic crowd to follow the Biblical example.

As he spoke, blustery winds whipped

temperatures down to 12 degrees Celsius, even as the sun shone overhead. Here, at 4,000 feet above sea level, Liquidoe is like many other hill communities in Timor-Leste where villages are spread out over large distances, and medical help is often several hours walk away.

Volunteers like farmer Augusto Ramos, 38, from Daulala village, will be the bridge between distant medical services and their communities from now on.

Pointing to the struggle his community faces in addressing under nutrition and poor growth in children, Ramos said, “The food here is enough and available; we have corn, rice and plenty of fruits. But the parents don’t know how to prepare appropriate food for their children.” It will be up to Ramos and his colleagues to inform and motivate the community on how to meet its basic nutritional needs.

Volunteer training, which will continue in the coming months, also includes birth planning and early childcare, among other health topics. Armed with knowledge, the Health Promoters will act as health educators and behavioural change agents to encourage others to adopt simple disease-prevention practices.

University student Augustinha Barreto, 26, from Kotolau village revealed that women find delivering at a health facility daunting because they have to be away from their families for many days, while incurring costs too.

“Our village is far away from the health centre,” Barreto said, “and a lot of the women believe that it’s better to deliver at home so we give them information about skilled birth attendants who can help them.”

Such advice from a fellow community member could mean the difference between life and death in a country where the maternal mortality ratio is between 420 and 800 per 100,000 live births and the infant mortality rate is 60 per 1000 live births. Additionally, every Timorese woman delivers, on average, more than seven babies in her lifetime and only 10 per cent of women give birth at a health facility.

The challenge of scaling up the FHPP to all 13 districts still lies ahead but Amaral is optimistic, citing the enthusiastic response from volunteers as an indication of its future success.

A health volunteer from Aileu receives his certificate from former Health Minister Dr Rui de Araujo at the official launch of the Family Health Promoters Programme

Volunteer Augusto Ramos, 38, will now serve as the bridge between distant medical services and his community




veryday before school, 12-year-old Jose da Cunha has to complete an important task: he walks for at least two hours to bring 10 litres of

water back home. During the dry season, when the water source downhill dries up, he has to trek uphill to a spring that is even further away.

The boy lives in Camea village which is a 20-minute drive from the capital city Dili. He is so near, yet so far away from piped water. This scenario is repeated across Timor-Leste where thousands of children walk long distances daily to fetch water.

“Sometimes the children have to wait

E

By Bridgette See

WATER OF LIFE

[at the source] because there are many people so they are late for school and skip classes,” says the boy’s father, Paulo da Cunha.

Currently, only half of Timor’s rural population has access to safe water supplies which explains their daily preoccupation with water. This deficiency means that toilets are also a rarity; only one in 10 rural homes has one. It is the same situation in schools where children use the bushes when they have to go. Besides the health risks, the lack of privacy also discourages adolescent girls from attending school.

To address these issues, UNICEF has begun a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

(WASH) project that will benefit 31 villages in five districts. The project has three aims: to bring clean water to villages; to help each family to build toilets; and to encourage families to practise better hygiene habits through health education.

“The biggest impact of the project will be to decrease the workload of women and children, as they are often the ones who have to collect water,” says Bishnu Pokhrel, UNICEF WASH Officer. “This will save them a lot of time, which is significant especially for school-going children.”

With UNICEF’s funding, the District Water and Sanitation Department was finally able to respond to the needs of some

BRINGS HOPE TO COMMUNITIES

Health: Water

12-year-old Jose Cunha helps out in the family by collecting water every morning before school

<


372008

of the most water-impoverished villages in 2006 and 2007. “We have been dreaming about water and that people will finally hear our call,” says Antonio Riberio, the village chief of Camea.

“We received a request from this village since 2001, but we had no funds. Recently with UNICEF’s help, we have been able to begin some work,” explains Isac Pereira, Community Water and Sanitation District Officer.

Together with local NGOs, the Government held a community action and planning meeting with each village to discuss their water and sanitation problems, identify their needs, and create

an action plan. Villagers formed groups that planned and implemented the WASH project; when all the work is completed, the groups will then operate and maintain the facilities.

“The community suggested the locations for three water tanks but it was us who did a technical assessment,” says Jose Da Silva from NGO Natiles. “Only one location had to be changed because it was too far away from the homes.”

In early 2007, the villagers of Camea began constructing the water tanks with materials supplied by UNICEF. “We had to carry the materials up to the construction site by foot because there was

no road,” says Paulo da Cunha, “Even the women and children helped to carry water up there.”

The villagers are motivated as they know that once piped water flows to their village, the nearby school will also have water and working toilets. “We may not receive any money for working, but we will receive water,” adds Da Cunha, “and it will mean that my children will have better education.”

The WASH project will also assist 69 families in Camea to build their own private toilets. Previously, only two families could afford them. Now, cement, sand, squatting pans, PVC pipes and iron bars are provided; the villagers only have to build the toilet walls with any material they can afford. Some have chosen palm leaves while others use zinc plates.

Manuel da Conceiçao, 32, is now saving up enough money to complete his toilet with cement blocks. The father of four believes his family’s health will greatly improve once the toilet is completed.

“To take a bath, we have to walk down about 30 minutes to the river,” he says. “There’s also no privacy in the village, if we need to use the toilet, we have to find a spot in the bush or go inside the pig sty.”

During the construction of the water systems and toilets in the 31 villages, trained staff from local NGOs also conducted health education such as hand washing, proper water storage at home and the proper use of toilets. They will continue this again when the project is complete, at the end of 2007.

- October 2007

Health: Water

Village chief Antonio Riberio (right) and NGO staff Jose da Silva inspect a newly constructed toilet in Camea

Villagers from Camea dig trenches to lay pipes so that water from distribution tanks can flow to their village<

“We have been dreaming about water and that people will finally hear our call.

Antonio Riberio”

UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Pokhrel


<


OCCIDENTAL

392008

By Bridgette SeeAll photographs by Martine Perret/UNMIT

Separated but one with Timor-Leste, the enclave is now getting the attention it needs.

OECUSSE


ecusse is unique. Lying on the north shore of Timor Island, it is about 75 km away from Timor-Leste, and enclosed by Indonesia

on three sides. Technically, it is an exclave since it sits completely outside Timor-Leste, but it is more commonly referred to as the Oecusse enclave.

Due to its isolation, Oecusse has retained a rustic touch, with locals still clad in traditional woven cloths or tais, while puffing on pipes or rolled cigarettes. But this separation from the mainland has proven to be a challenge for the autonomous region. Road travel is difficult so most people rely on a twice-weekly ferry to reach Dili, while the United Nations mission runs a limited helicopter service for its staff.

“Everything in Oecusse cost more than in Dili due to the extra freight cost to ship it from Dili,” says Richard Mounsey, who is the UN Development Programme’s Senior Economic Advisor to the Oecusse Secretary of State. “Bad weather or ferry breakdowns result in people being trapped here with the food supply cut off as Oecusse is still unable to meet its own food demands.”

According to studies, the enclave is one of the poorest areas in Timor, and the most vulnerable in terms of food security. It is also lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which include aims of improving literacy, gender equality, and maternal and child survival rates.

Based on these assessments, the UN has chosen to focus on Oecusse for its joint programme for vulnerable districts. This coordinates development efforts for UN agencies, funds and programmes, as

well as the current UN mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).

A joint visit to Oecusse in May 2007 started the ball rolling — establishing a local-level coordination committee made up of government, UN and NGO representatives. Mounsey co-chairs the group with the Secretary of State Jorge Teme and District Administrator Francisco Marquez.

“The present projects are okay but not integrated. Sometimes they are replicated and there’s no cross-coordination,” Mounsey explains. “The group aims to

focus on the MDGs in the places the Government alone may take years to reach.”

An example of a coordinated effort is a trial by Caritas Australia to introduce a package of services to the Cuetete region, in the north. The NGO’s plan is to start by introducing roads, and subsequently other services such as schools, mobile clinics, water and sanitation, and economic programmes. The road works which was completed in October 2007 was funded by UNMIT, while WFP and ILO gave food and cash to those who

O

Timor-LesteWest Timor (Indonesia)

Pante Macasar

Nitibe Oesilo

Passabe

PANTE MACASAR

OECUSSEPopulation : 58,000Education : 62% illiterate (above 6 years old)Employment : 82% in agriculture, fishing, and forestryLocal languages: Baikenu, AtoniSource: Timor-Leste Census 2004

Occidental Oecusse

4�2008

participated in the construction. UNICEF is also sharpening its

focus on Oecusse. “We looked at all our programmes’ work plans to prioritise our efforts in Oecusse,” says Baba Danpapa, UNICEF Deputy Representative. “For instance, we will accelerate our immunisation activities to dramatically increase the number of children protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, and at the same time aim to improve the quality of service.”

Rehabilitation of school toilets and water systems is also a concern. Four

schools that required immediate help have been identified by UNICEF and WFP. Consultant Franklin Garcia, with staff from the National Directorate of Water and Sanitation Services, drew up plans to install water supply systems at the four sites by year’s end. UNICEF will continue to assist more schools in 2008.

“I felt that the communities were so enthusiastic,” says Garcia. “When we asked if they were willing to build and maintain the toilets and wells if we provided the materials, they said, ‘Yes, if you come, we’re ready to do it.’”

By bringing water to school kitchens, this will complement WFP’s School Feeding Programme which provides food supplies for parents to prepare mid-day meals for students.

“By converging all of UNICEF’s activities on Oecusse, we can see the impact of the synergy of the interventions,” says Siping Wang, UNICEF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.

In August, UNICEF and government partners conducted a workshop to assist Oecusse’s top officials to draw up a development plan.

Chipping in:As with all parts of Timor-Leste, everyone including children help out on the farms<

“The group aims to focus on the MDGs in the places the Government alone may take years to reach.”

Richard Mounsey

Occidental Oecusse


Linking up:Farmers participate in a road project funded by the UN and other partners

432008


“We used the national database so that they could look at the available data and compare Oecusse’s situation with the other districts,” says Wang. “This evidence-based planning can help to prioritise which specific areas should be tackled with limited resources.”

Although the plan is still being drafted, some priority areas such as roads, clean water, health, education, agriculture and economic development have been identified.

“I hope that in two to three years, all the people of Oecusse will be able to enjoy electricity. Also I hope they will have sufficient water to drink, to bathe with, and to water their farms,” says Jorge Teme, Secretary of State. “After three years, I hope that with improved roads, the people will need only about 1.5 hours to reach Passabe (south of Oecusse), not five hours.”

Teme’s Chief of Staff, Jefferino Sau, points out that the other priority for the people of Oecusse is to have peace and

stability restored to the country. “When there is stability, there is development,” Sau says. “The people are aware and enthusiastic about development in Timor-Leste, especially in Oecusse.”

- October 2007

With additional reporting by Sophie Boudre and Ehud Bell from UNMIT Public Information Office.

Facets of Oecusse: It is a tough life in Oecusse but its people are enthusiastic about future development (left); Oecusse’s isolation helps preserves its rustic charm but poses economic challenges for its people (bottom left); No free-trade zone exists between Oecusse and Indonesia so locals can only rely on the ferry to trade goods in Dili

452008

Dolls with psychedelic hair colours in green, pink, blue and red are making their way into classrooms in Timor-Leste. Known as ‘Atauro’s Dolls’, the cotton dolls were handmade by 30 previously unemployed women from Atauro Island, which is part of Dili district. More than 3000 were purchased by UNICEF in May 2007 and distributed to all government registered pre-schools and some IDP camps running pre-primary activities. A 4-page guide was also provided to give teachers more ideas on using the dolls, from telling stories, to demonstrating simple behaviour like washing hands and friendliness. “I think playing with dolls can

Snapshots

Hello Dolly!


UNICEF Timor-Leste/2007/Santos

really teach the children how to be gentle and to care,” said Sister Aurora, who runs the Canossiana pre-school in Comoro. She has even organised a workshop for her teachers to familiarise them with the dolls after observing that both teachers and students were too shy to get silly and talk to their newfound friends.

On a hot Friday afternoon in July, 20 eager children gathered at the steps of the Akanunu church in Hera to await UNICEF consultants Filomena Babo and Yulian Setyanto. The two had come to organise the children for a Smiling Faces drawing competition held by UNICEF’s Korean National Committee. This annual contest is part of the 27th Geumsan Ginseng Festival in Korea. The children huddled in a small circle around Yulian and watched attentively as he drew a happy faced child with a blue T-shirt and squiggles for hair. He placed his picture in the middle and the children eagerly got down to business. Soon, smiling faces of every shape, size and colour emerged. These drawings, together with

those from 2 other Dili-based IDP camps, were sent to Korea. Children from Laos, Mongolia, Thailand, Afghanistan and China also took part. Although no Timorese entries took the top prizes, three were chosen as ‘Selected drawings’ and the children received a box of crayons and ginseng candies from Korea. — Darla Rudakubana

Say CheeseIt was a break from their daily routine, as the residents of Motael IDP camp gathered to catch skits by local theatre group Knua Buka Hatene. Supported by UNICEF, the group toured 10 Dili IDP camps to share child protection messages. The actors’ comic skills threw everyone in stitches, as they parodied teachers, parents and an elderly granny. Based on UNICEF’s campaign “Speak Nicely to Me”, the skit encouraged adults to explain to children gently when they make mistakes instead of shouting or beating them. Next was a skit about a man who sexually abuses his niece. Luckily a friend comes to the girl’s rescue and brings her to the doctor and police where justice is sought. Their antics once again rocked the crowd with laughter, but at times, the audience fell silent when the niece cried sorrowfully. UNICEF hopes that by combining theatre with humour, tough issues like sexual abuse and violence against children will be more openly discussed in communities. UNICEF is now working with two theatre groups to present similar skits in Ainaro, Oecusse, and Bobonaro districts. By the end of 2007, the groups are expected to reach more than 10,000 children and adults in schools, IDP camps and communities. — Darla Rudakubana

Serious fun

Marta has had a busy year: the Timorese cartoon character, which was developed to promote girls’ and children’s rights, has appeared on TV,

radio, posters and even comic books. Marta was recruited to assist the United Nations in the parliamentary elections by appearing on two posters printed by the Voter Education Unit. UNICEF also developed three 30-second radio and TV spots to remind parents to vote wisely for

Star act

The ‘evil’ uncle who abuses his niece sexually in a UNICEF-supported theatre skit

UNIC

EF Ti

mor-L

este/

2007

/See

their children’s future, and to protect their children from being manipulated into joining political activities. A full-colour Marta comic book ‘Will Marta leave school?’ is now hot off the printing press, with a second one ‘Learning how to respect’ on its way. Marta was officially launched in 2006 and supported by organisations such as the Alola Foundation, and the Government’s Office of Promotion of Equality. Email: [email protected] for more information.


Snapshots

facts about Timor

* ILO: International Labour Organisation* FAO: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

�0 Timor lost the title of “The World’s Newest Nation” after Montenegro became independent in June 2006. But Timor-Leste is still the youngest nation this side of the world!

�

A new ferry, the Nakroma, now plies between Oecusse, Dili and Atauro Island. Donated by Germany, the boat carries up to 300 passengers and �70 tonnes of cargo.

2 The country’s first national park, named after resistance hero Nino Santana, was announced in August 2007. The �23,600 hectares park, found in the eastern part of the country, links three of the country’s bird sanctuaries: Lore, Monte Paitchau and Lake Iralala, and Jaco Island.

3 1 in 3 Timorese is 15-29 years old; ILO* says every year 15,000-20,000 young people enter the labour market. But with an unstable economy, only �2% of the total labour force is formally hired.

4

Pre-paid phone cards at $5 and $10 are now available. Telecommunications costs remain the same - $0.25 per minute and $0.�0 per SMS locally.

5 National broadcaster RTTL’s signals are stronger now thanks to additional repeaters and transmitters. All �3 districts can tune in to Radio Timor-Leste while �0 districts can receive local TV news without relying on satellite dishes anymore.

6 �,�00 wind-up radios from AUSAID were given to rural aldeia (sub-village) chiefs in July to promote access to information. A national media survey says the biggest barrier to radio listening is the cost of batteries so these radios should get more Timorese tuning into the airwaves.

7

The 2007 Parliamentary elections ushered in a high number of female members; 18 women from six parties form 27% of Parliament, higher than the global average of 17%.

8 Apart from political conflict, Timor also suffered from a persistent drought and locust attacks that ravaged its 2007

harvest. FAO* said major crop production was cut by 30%, leaving one in five Timorese in need of food assistance.

9 Timor-Leste ratified all seven international treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on International Human Rights Day, �0th December 2002.

�0

Diakka lae ?Diak

ka lae ?

472008

n early August, I travelled to Baucau, a district east of Dili and reached by one of the most picturesque roads in Timor. A week later, Baucau was set alight by groups protesting the outcome of the 2007 parliamentary elections. Schools,

churches and humanitarian aid offices, supplies and equipment were destroyed. Baucau’s Regional Office housing Social Services - one of the few functioning offices of its kind in the country - was reduced to ashes. Families and communities, including participants of UNICEF’s earlier training on child rights and child protection, fled to Dili and neighbouring districts in fear.

Violence subsequently erupted in another district, Viqueque: emptying villages and forcing families and communities into their mountains, far from services, schools and international support. United Nations personnel’s security was at risk and access to vulnerable people difficult.

Instability remains a constant feature of life in Dili and crisis-affected districts such as Baucau. Many in the protection sector expected that most of the displaced peoples would return home, after the initial political crisis of 2006. But this has not been the case and as the latest inter-agency emergency appeal highlights, limited funding is available for the required sustained humanitarian response.

I

Commentary

By Lauren Rumble

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT TIMOR’S CHILDREN?

Indeed, the impact of violence can be significant, particularly on women and children so increased support is needed to address the myriad of problems children are facing now.

Throughout its history, Timor-Leste has been besieged by violence and insecurity. A prolonged history of oppression and victimisation has taken its toll: more than 40% of the population now live below the poverty line, with at least one in 10 children acutely malnourished. Some 10% of people are displaced, following the 2006 crisis and continued civil unrest. Access to basic social services, especially in rural areas is poor.

In the capital Dili, many children are without parental care and have taken to living and working on the streets - exposed to violence, exploitation and abuse. Human trafficking, especially child trafficking, is also a real risk. Many children, when interviewed, expressed a sense of hopelessness for their future and a large number of young people are involved in gangs, criminal activities and violence.

Groups monitoring gender-based violence report increased incidence in displacement camps or host communities, with an estimated 60% of cases involving children. Like in many post-conflict countries, gender-based violence in Timor-Leste is linked to the underlying causes of poverty, rage, and traditional beliefs

Mar

tine P

erre

t/UNM

IT Still displaced: By October 2007, 100,000 people were still internally displaced in the country


Commentary

about women and girls’ low status in society. Few official reports are received however, due to a lack of services, survivors’ sense of shame and guilt, as well as an economic dependency on the perpetrator. It is likely that actual incidence of gender-based violence is therefore much higher than reported numbers.

Violence against women and children prevents a significant part of Timor-Leste’s population from participating fully in the development of this new and politically vibrant nation. As recognised internationally, gender-based violence is a threat to long–term peace and stability, as well as progress to end poverty.

Yet the protection of women and children is seldom prioritised in the mandate and resource allocation of police troops. The Vulnerable Persons Unit within the national police force is short-staffed and overstretched; few trained personnel are active to receive and follow-up complaints of violence and abuse.

Within the legal and social services sectors, resources are also limited. Only a handful of trained professionals are available to address the needs and rights of child victims, witnesses and offenders. As a result, enormous gaps exist between international and national conventions, laws and policies, and what children experience every day in this new nation.

What is needed is transformative action at a variety of levels.We need to build up a social movement to combat abusive traditional practices that have existed for decades. Legislators and law enforcers must untangle the confusing web of inherited Indonesian, Portuguese and other legislation to adequately protect children-at-risk. Programmes to support vocational training, informal education and reconciliation for children in contact with the law should be in place. The social sector is particularly in need of attention: a cohort of social welfare professionals to support child victims is urgently required while access to social

services must be increased through decentralisation. Such strategies should take account of the ever-evolving

political, social and economic context to place children’s rights and protection at the centre of the new Government’s development plan.

For example, oil wealth could be channelled into social investment projects that create safety nets and provide social assistance for vulnerable children and families. Additional financial and technical support should be budgeted for by Government to ensure that the Child Protection Unit within the Department of Social Services is properly staffed and funded.

In 2005, the then Prime Minister established a National Commission for Children under decree law. This Commission needs to be active; allowing for vigilant monitoring and reporting on child rights violations in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Security of the population should be integrally linked to provide special security for women and children through trained, active police units that are able to report and investigate crimes of sexual violence and abuse.

There are tremendous opportunities to create a protective environment for children in Timor-Leste. Already, a culture of human rights and empowerment pervades government policy-making and is at the heart of Timor’s struggle for peace and independence. The international community can support such momentum by contributing sound technical guidance and meaningful capacity building initiatives to boost national leadership and positively impact on children’s lives in Timor-Leste.

Lauren Rumble is Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF Timor-Leste. [email protected]

Devastation:A family in front of their

burnt-down house in Afolokai, Viqueque after post-election

violence in August 2007

Martine Perret/UNM

IT

United Nations Children’s Fund Timor-LesteUN HouseP.O. Box 212Rua de CaicoliDili, Timor-Leste

T: +670 3313532F: +670 3313532

www.unicef.org

Unicef Timor-Leste NOw and the Future 2008

Documents

Transcript of Unicef Timor-Leste NOw and the Future 2008